Merchandise display table



Nov. 9, 1937. I L. s. JNES ET'AL y 2,098,453

MERCHANDISE'DISPLAY rAxLE Filed Oct. 29, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 9, `1937. L. s. JANs-:s ET AL 2,098,453

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TABLE Filed oct. 29, 193e s sheets-smeet 2 Zesk'e Javnesan aen, ,John Nt eben.

if by.

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TABLE fwr/EnfUJ-s I. esle S. Janes `@7222 Gben,

.John zez'sez.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937` l PATENT oFFlcE 2,098,453 MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TABLE Leslie S. Janes, John G.

Raben, and John Nielseli,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of New York Application October 29,1936, Serial No. 108,194

14 Claims.

Our invention relates to store equipment and has to do more particularly with tables and the like which are especially adapted for the display of merchandise. Y

used for this purpose are either of limited capacity or, where the capacity isrelatively large, much ofthe space has been avalableonly for storage and not for display.

A particular object of our invention is to 'provide a table which will have an exceptionally large amount of spaceavailable for display, so that said device may function to a maximum extent as a selling aid, in contradistinction to a mere storage device.

Another object is, to provide an article of the type referred to which may be fabricated from standard parts and may be quickly converted, with ordinary tools, into a large number of different designs.' giving various esthetic effects and rendering the device available for vdifferent purposes.

A further object is to provide a device of the type referred towhich will be 'of simple and sturdy construction, attractive in appearance, economical to fabricate, and generally satisfactory for the purposes desired.

We have devised a construction of table, which may be fabricated from sheet metal, having o cantilever extensions capable of supporting and displaying largequantities of merchandise, and constructible in standard sections.

.eferring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of our invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ot the top of the article shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 lis a sectional View taken substantially along the line llof Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view ta along the line t-- o1" Fig. 5;

Fig. l is a sectional view taken substantiallyl along the line 'l-l' of Fig. 1; vand Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8--6 of Fig. 1.

In, our preferred construction, tables embodying our invention are fabricated out of sheet metal. Such material is available at relatively low cost, lends itself readily to modern methods ken substantially Tables and the like which have heretofore beenof fabrication, is especially adaptable to modern styling, and is suiciently strong to meet the requirements of any normal load that is likely to be required for ordinary merchandise. Furthermore, such material ls easily cleaned.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises. shelf sections Illa, lob, and luc. Said sections may be formed of sheet metal, and preferably have anintegral rim portion l2 which may be rectangular in cross section, as seen in Fig. 4.

Extending longitudinally of each 'of the tray or shelf portions Illa and Ib ls a plurality of channel shaped stiiening or reinforcing members l5 which may be conveniently stamped4 out of sheet metal. Said stiflening members have outwardly extending marginal flanges I6 which may be attached to the shelf sections as by spot welding. This method of reinforcement, which may be referred to as pan bracing, is used s'ubstantially throughout.

f Also extending longitudinally of the marginal portions of the shelf sections are L-shaped anchor plates I8, said plates being secured as by spot welding to the underside of said shelf sections and having a leg I8a disposed adjacent and spot welded lto the inside of rim portion l2. Said anchor plates have spaced countersunk perforations I9 receiving securing members such as flat headed screws for the attachment of angle braces 22, said braces being spot welded to spacingv panels 25. The screws V2|) are welded to the anchor plates i8 before the latter are welded in place. The angle braces 22 are provided with bent flanges 23 which dig into the underside of the anchor plates i8 to make a stii joint. After assembly of angle braces 22 on screws 20 they are retained by means of nuts 24.

The spacing members 25are channel shaped in cross section as seen best in Fig.r 1, having a web portion 26, leg or column portions 2l, the latter having inturned portions 28, the latter adding greatly to the ystrength of the spacers in supporting heavy loads of goods on the trays. The spacers are apertured as at 3D to permit passage of the stiffening channels l5, and are themselves provided With stiiening pan braces l5.

As seen in Fig. 8, the intermediate trayorshelf lilla is secured between spacers 25 at the top and bottom thereof and the assembly is secured by means of angle braces 22 similar to the braces 22 shown in Fig. 4, said members being bolted together in opposed relation by means of the bolt 32 and nut 33. It will be seen that we have provided a very secure joint by meansi of the bracing of the flanges 23 of the angle braces 22 on opposite sides of the tray Nb as well as the bracing of said angle members and spacers 25 against the rim I2 of the tray.

As seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 7, the lowermost tray Hic rests on a channel shaped base 35,- said base having slide domes 31 secured to the corners. The base i's reinforced by Z-members 33 at spaced points.

Panels 40 are disposed between shelves 10b and Illc at each end of the tablesaid panels preferably having round corners conforming with the corners of the tray or shelf members' and having inwardly extending flanges 42 at each end thereof. Thus, these end panels are substantially similar to the spacers 25 and constitute very effective supports for any normal load which may be placed on the tray IOb. At their'upper portion the end panels 40 (Fig. 5) are provided with inwardly extending flanges 43 which may be bolted as at 44 to the return flange 45 of the rim portion i2. Rear panels 4G may be provided between the endpanels 40 and spacers 25said rear panels being provided with inturned flanges 41 bolted to the flanges 42 of the end panels as at 48. Rear panels may likewise be provided between the spacers 25 and similarly secured. These rear panels may be stiffened by pan braces i5 At the bottom of the panels 40, they are secured as by spot welding to corner brackets 50. Said brackets have upstanding flanges 5i, 5|" welded to the end panel on 'opposite sides of the corner, a downwardly extending flange 52, and a horizontal portion 53 through which extends a screw 55. Said screws connect the end panels through brackets 50 to the tray I0c and also to the base 35.

The base 35 has an inwardly extending flange 51 which receives the screw 55 and also a flange 58 to which are secured the corner slide domes 31.

It will be seen that we have provided a display table which is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive, although very strong, by reason of its sheet metal fabrication, and having all of its shelf space available for display. It will also be apparent that by reason of the fact that our device is formed by the assembly of more or less standard parts bolted together, it may be modified by the purchaser within considerable limits to meet various requirements and give different effects. Thus, for example, the end and rear panels may be removed, the number of trays may be increased or diminished, the spacing of the spacers may be modified, a large number of bolt holes being provided for that-purpose in the various trays, and various other modifications may be made. Obviously, such an arrangement provides a very flexible unit for the merchandiser.

Fig. 2 shows a modification which is-substantially similar in construction to the embodiment just described except that it provides a pair of cantilever extension shelves 65, 65, and- 8l, 65 at each end, the end panels being omitted, giving a true cantilever construction of the shelves. This embodiment, therefore, gives added display value.

Various modifications coming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and hence we do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated by the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

We claim:

1. A merchandise display table formed of sheet metal, said table having a pairof shelves, vertifrom the ends thereof,` whereby the ends of Said shelves are free in cantilever style, said panels having angle members forming bracing means disposedv at substantially right angles from the ends thereof, one leg of an angle member being parallel with the panel, the space between said shelves being substantially free except for said panels.

-2. A merchandise display table formedof sheet metal, said table having a pair of shelves, vertically extending horizontally spaced panels disposed between said shelves, said panels having angle members forming bracing means disposed at substantially right angles from the ends thereof, one leg of an angle member being parallel with the panel, the space between said shelves being substantially free except for said panels,

vmeans supporting said shelves in elevated relation to a floor, and means connecting said parts and providing quick demountability thereof.

3. A merchandise display table formed 0f sheet metal and comprising a plurality of shelves and spacing members disposed therebetween and inwardly of the ends thereof, said spacing members having channel shaped ends, the space between said shelves being substantially free at the extremities thereof and between said extremities and said spacing members.

4. In sheet metal furniture, a shelf member having an integral rim consisting of an upwardly extending flange, a downwardly extending flange and an inwardly extending return flange, a vertical panel disposed in position to be clamped to said rim, and detachable means clamping said panel towsald rim.

5. In sheet metal furniture, a. shelf member having an integral rim consisting of an upward- '.ly extending flange, a downwardly extending and an inwardly extending'return flange, a vertical panel disposed adjacent `said rim, andi means detachably clamping said panel in position comprising an angular member having a 1 leg bearing against said panel and a leg screwed to saidshelf member, the free edge of said last mentioned leg reslliently engaging the surface of said shelf member.

7. In sheet metal furniture, a shelf member having a rim. provided with an upwardly extending flange, a downwardly extending ange,

and an. inwardly extending return flangia, a vertical panel having ya face disposed adjacent said rim, and detachable means clamping said panel in position.

8. In sheet metal furniture, a` shelf member having a rim provided with an upwardly extending flange, a downwardly extending flange, and an inwardly extending return flange, a vertical panel having a flange disposed adjacent said rim, and detachable means clamping -said panel in position, said clamping means comprising a screw secured angular member bearing against said flange.

9. In sheet metal furniture, a shelf member having a rim provided with an upwardly extendcured in bracing relation to the downwardly extending ang'e o f said rim, a Vertical panel disposed adjacent said rim, and means detach` aby clamping said panel in position comprising an angular member having a leg bearing against said panel 'and a leg lscrewed to said reinforcing member, the free edge of said last mentioned leg resiliently engaging the surface of said reinforcing member.

1,0. In lsheet metal furniture, a horizontal goods supporting member having a rim provided with a ange depending below the plane of the horizontal member, a U-shaped panel arranged perpendicularly to said member and having a leg disposed adjacent said flange, and releasable means including an angle member carried by said horizontal member for clamping said leg against said depending flange.

ll. In sheet metal furniture, a pair of horizontal goods 'supporting members, each having a rim comprising an upstanding flange and a depending ange, a pair of spaced members separating said horizontal members, said separating members each being approximately of Uforina` tion, and. means carried by the horizontal members releasably clamping a leg of said separating members against a ange of said rixn.

l2. In sheet metal furniture, a pair of horizontai-goods supporting members, each having a rim comprising an upstanding dange and a depending flange, a pair of spaced vertical panels separating said horizontal members, said panels each being approximately of U-formation, and means carried by the horizontal members releasably clamping a leg of said panels against a flange of said rim, said panels being spaced inwardly of the ends of said horizontal members so that the spaces between said panels and between the latter and the ends of saidl horizontal members are substantially clear. Y v

13. In sheet metal furniture, a horizontal goods supporting member having a rim' pro` vided with an upwardy extending iiange'and a downwardly extending ange, substantially U- shaped coplanar panels extending perpendicularly on opposite sides of said horizontal member and spaced inwardly from an end thereof, means releasabiy seeming said panels -to said member comprising clamps engaging a correspending leg of each panel, 4and common means attaching Vsaid clamps to said horizontal member.

14. A merchandise display table formed of sheet metal, said table having a pair of shelves, vertically extending horizontally spaced panels disposed between said shelves and spaced inwardly from the ends thereof, whereby the ends of said shelves are free in cantilever style, said panels having their extremities deformed to provide substantially U-sliaped bracing portions.

LESLIE S. JANES. JOHN G. RABEN. JOI-INA NIELSEN. 

